Catchword founder Maria Cypher profiled in NamesCon

FAST FACTSLocation: Oakland, CaliforniaTime spent in the domain industry: Almost 20 yearsFavourite extension: .comTell us which domain you wish you owned: CarInsurance.com would help the bank accountCurrently reading: “The Lessons of History” by Will & Ariel DurantYour mentor: My father

Q&ADescribe your company. How long have you been there, and what led you to this career choice?
Twenty years ago, I co-founded Catchword Branding, and it’s become a leading, global naming firm. For me, it was the perfect blend of creative, strategy, playing with words, endlessly learning about new things, and having my own firm. A few years later, we launched a very natural offshoot, Just The Word, which is a marketplace of 1800 premium brandable domain names. I love the Wild West feel of domaining.

NamesCon is all about business networking. Can you tell us a story about the success of a meeting at NamesCon?
Because of NamesCon, my partner Mark and I have forged successful relationships with several domain brokers, with whom we’ve referred quite a bit of business from Catchword, and to whom we’ve sold domains from Just The Word.

Can you tell us about how your service or product helps deliver value to your customers?
Because Just The Word is part of Catchword (ranked as the #1 naming firm in the world), the domains we sell are truly creative and appropriate for startups and others interested in affordable brandables. Our names aren’t a random bunch of gobbledegook letters. Twenty years of work on hundreds of projects for blue-chip clients has resulted in an unmatched pool of domain names.

How does your career compare to what you envisioned in your youth?
Ha! I didn’t know this career existed. I think I gave the rote answers of “doctor or lawyer” when I was a kid, but in my heart I knew I’d be playing with words.

How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?
I create company and product names.